History

The Rochester Volunteer Fire Department

It all started one evening in 1925 when some of the men in the village felt they should have some fire protection for their homes and business places, other than the old “bucket brigade”

They met in what was called “The Men’s Club Room” in the northeast room on the first floor of the old academy building which stood on the south west corner of West Main and State Street.

I was a young fellow just out of High School and painted with C.W. Atherton Spray Painting Co. We used to play basketball upstairs. Some times it was pretty cold because some of the windows were out. I would like to give a plug for this fine bunch of fellows who stuck together for at least ten years. We were sponsored by the Rochester Merchants and on the back of each of our shirts was merchants name. I remember it so well because mine is among my souvenirs and across the back is “A Heloling, Village Blacksmith” I apologize for letting my mind drift away from the Fire Department.

At the first meeting there were not enough chairs for all, so most of the young fellows sat on the floor. Peter Breckenfeld was appointed Chairman. It was that night that the Rochester Volunteer Fire Department was born. Each person present threw in a dollar to start a fund. Mr. H.J. Howe, Alvin Schumacher, and Peter Breckenfeld were elected, as a committee of three to shop around for some used equipment.

Our first pumper was a hand pump mounted in a wooden tank. Three or four men could pump on each side. This was mounted on small steel wheels, which made it very hard to pull.

Peter Breckenfeld was our first Chief. Pledges and donations were taken and in 1929 an Evinrude pumper was purchased This could be picked up and carried by two men and was a very handy piece of equipment. It saved several people from being burned out, such as the Hardie brothers in Dover, and the Bert Nobles house at English Settlement. Yet this was not the answer, so in 1931 a small Chevrolet truck was purchased and a pump was mounted on the front end.

Up to that time it was a village department and for those outside who had donated to it. The department was trying to get an agreement with the town to go in with them to give all those in the town protection and also help with expenses. About this time, there was a fire in the town in which a barn was destroyed unnecessarily and this brought about an agreement, which has worked out satisfactorily.

An executive board was set up which consisted of one man from the village and one from the town and a third from either town or village. Their duties were to handle the financial and legal matters. At an annual meeting, the firemen presented to this board a budget that they thought would cover the running expenses for the coming year. At this time a new member was elected to the executive board for a three year term. New officers for the firemen were also elected at this time. After it is decided how much money is to be raised, the amount was prorated between the Village and the Town according to the assessed valuation of improvements. The refunds from insurance policies was turned back to the firemen for their personal expenses.

During the problems and expenses of organizing and equipping the fire department, its chief of many years, Alvin Schumacher, died. In 1944 Bock and Mohr Mink Farm gave 10,000.00 towards a new building to house the trucks and furnish the village with a hall. There was a request that it belong to the village, but be built in the memory of Alvin Schumacher. So the village purchased the property on which to build.

It had room for two trucks, a large hall, a kitchen, rest rooms, and a furnace room, and was dedicated in memory of Alvin Schumacher in 1947.

The demands for more protection in the town and village grew, and it became necessary for the village to purchase more land on which an addition to the west side was built. This added a storeroom, a town board meeting room and a space for a new fire truck. A new entrance, floor tile, false ceiling, and draperies, mad by the auxiliary, have added to the comfort and appearance of the hall.

The Women’s Auxiliary was organized in February 1951. This group has some faithful members who have done a great deal for the community, as well as helping to make our fire hall more attractive and useful.

Both the auxiliary and the firemen have been a means of getting together socially. Each year the firemen entertain their wives at a dinner dance. They have an annual firemen’s dance for the public. The families have been entertained at a Summer picnic and Christmas party.

Each year the auxiliary trims a Christmas tree, which has been used by scout and 4-H club groups, graded school Christmas programs, firemen’s parties or any group that happened to use the hall at Christmas time.

They have served lunches or dinners for weddings, anniversaries and funerals. They have remembered the aged and shut in with Christmas cookies and sent cards to the sick, parents of new babies, new comers as well as those celebrating special anniversaries. They have given card parties to raise money to add chairs and card tables and needed kitchen equipment, and they alternate with Honey Creek at serving dinner to the American Legion on Memorial Day. They sponsor the Girl Scouts.

Now, in 1974, we have a fire department that many larger cities could be proud of. We have about 25-members and trucks that are equipped with radios. Some of these men really give a lot of their time. Almost any night you might find some of them at the firehouse cleaning this, and checking that, or they may be taking special training somewhere. I think a big “Thank You” should be given to all who have given so generously of their time and their financial help to make our department what it has grown to be over the last forty-nine years.

s/ EDWIN SCHEARD